CALIFORNIA TALENT TO COMPETE UNDER THE GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS BANNER IN 2015

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS BOLSTERS INTERNATIONAL ROSTER

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 8) - Golden Boy Promotions is pushing to make 2015 its best year yet, adding a host of local California talent as well as signing six of the international scene's top stars to exclusive promotional contracts.

"I'm excited to kick off 2015 with the addition of these talented fighters to the Golden Boy roster," said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. "Each of these fighters have the talent, skill, determination and desire that it takes to make it to the top."

Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan, 32-year-old Yoshihiro "Maestrito" Kamegai (25-2-1, 22 KOs) built a stellar reputation in Asia for years, winning regional titles at 140 and 147 pounds. But it was a fight he lost to Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero in June of 2014 that made him a star on the international scene, as the two engaged in a Fight of the Year candidate. On Dec. 13, Kamegai stopped Oscar "El Tigre" Godoy in four rounds.

Born in Cebu, Philippines, 27-year-old San Diegan Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (28-1-1, 16 KOs) has lived up to his nickname "No Mercy" when it comes to opponents, as he's won 28 of his 30 professional bouts. A former world title challenger looking to get another shot at the lightweight title, Gesta has won two bouts straight, most recently halting Luis "El Vampiro" Arceo in seven rounds.

27-year old knock out artists, Gilberto "Flaco" Gonzalez (23-3, 19 KOs) from Distrito Federal, Mexico, has been undefeated since 2013 and has defeated all seven of his opponents by knock out. His most recent fight, against Puerto Rico's Jeffery Fontanez, in Cancun, Mexico was an all-out war. Gonzalez knocked down Fontanez once in the fourth round and twice in the fifth, resulting in a satisfying win for Gonzalez and stripping Fontanez of his undefeated status.

La Puente, Calif. native, Abraham Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) has been on a hot streak since his professional debut in 2008. Undefeated, Lopez has won twelve of his bouts via knockout, and is looking to continue the momentum and get back in the ring in 2015.

A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, 20-year-old Antonio "La Joya" Gutierrez (17-0-1, 7 KOs) is in his fourth year as a professional, and after learning his trade on the tough Mexican scene, the promising middleweight made his United States debut in October of 2014, winning by majority decision against veteran Dashon "Fly Boy" Johnson. In his most recent bout on Dec. 13 13, Gutierrez defeated Erick "El Brujo" Mireles.

East Los Angeles' Roy "Pitbull" Tapia (10-0-1, 5 KOs) has been in the gym since he was seven years old, following in the footsteps of his father, a former professional boxer. Tapia made his debut in 2011, and in his most recent bout on Nov. 13, the unbeaten 23-year-old featherweight scored the biggest win of his career over 50-fight veteran Luis "Titi" Maldonado.

A professional since 2013, Buena Park, Calif. knockout artist Christian "Chimpa" Gonzalez (8-0, 8 KOs) is a boxing legacy, his brother is the former WBC Featherweight World Champion Alejandro "Cobrita" Gonzalez. He has destroyed all willing to face him thus far in his career, winning each bout by knockout. Gonzalez has shown that he is a power puncher to watch in 2015 and beyond.

Now making his home in Los Angeles, 27-year-old Colombia native Oscar "Jaguar" Negrete (7-0, 3 KOs) won bronze medals as an amateur for his country in the 2006 South American, Central American and Caribbean Games before turning professional in 2013. His success has not slowed down since then, with three of his bouts ending by way of knockout.

Los Angeles undefeated featherweight Emilio Sanchez (5-0, 4 KOs) can do it all in the ring, making him a natural to join the Golden Boy Promotions squad of future starts. A professional+ since 2013, Sanchez won his first three bouts via first-round knockout, and he has continued to impress with 2014 victories over Jonathan Ramos and Juan Alvarado.

Jesus Ivan Delgado (3-0, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, Calif. is a 24-year-old prospect on the fast track to big things at 135 pounds. A favorite at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, Calif., where he has already made three appearances, Delgado is coming off a shutout decision win over Rick Quevedo on November 13.

A two-time Olympian and a two time Pan American Games medalist for his home country of Brazil, Everton Lopes won 240 bouts as an amateur, earning gold at the 2011 World Amateur Championships and bronze in 2013. In 2015, the talented 26-year-old southpaw will make his professional debut, and he will have a nation behind him as he pursues a world title.

Fighting out of the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, 18-year-old featherweight Nick Arce (1-0, 1 KO) is a former amateur standout who entered the professional boxing world in style in Nov. 13, of 2014 with a fourth round knockout of Adalbert "Kiki" Valenzuela.

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